Environment Flashcards
what have we heard about the environment in the media (5)
- other countries are not interested in our materials and have returned them
- urgent issues with climate change
- move to electric cars; Canada to produce batteries
- banning plastic bags; use of paper or cloth bags
- divesting from fossil fuels in pension plans
sustainability
- the conscious design and consideration of impacts consumption choices make on the environment given finite resources
sustainable development
- form of growth wherein societal needs, present and future, are met `
ecological footprint
- the impact of the consumption of goods and services on the environment
sustainable consumption
- the use of goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while minimizing the use of natural resources, toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations
stewards of the earth
- we have a responsibility to protect the earth that extends beyond our immediate family circle
natural capital
- the environment, a good we have to protect
ecologo
- labels for products that indicate that are an environmentally good product
environmentalism (3)
- concern for the environment, in general
- concerned about how to retain existing environmental resources, both socially (species) and physically (habitats)
- display eco-consciousness and conservation practices
ecoconsciousness
- thoughts and actions given to protecting and sustaining the environment
conservation
act or process of preserving and protecting natural environments from loss or depletion
what sectors of the environment are facing problems (5)
- water
- noise
- energy
- waste, recycling
- air quality
environmental problems: water (2)
- shortage of water
- pollution of water makes most of it unusable
environmental problems: noise
- any unwanted sounds create noise pollution
environmental problems: energy (3)
- energy production
- energy waste
- pollution from energy
environmental problems: waste, recycling
- integrated waste management
environmental problems: air quality
- deterioration comes from many sources
environmental solutions: water pollution (4)
- save water use whenever possible: dishes, grooming, cooking, washing car
- full loads of laundry, dishes
- install low-flow shower heads and fix leaky faucets
- landscape with native plants that don’t need additional water, water lawn/plants early, and cover soil with compost to reduce evaporation
environmental solutions: unwanted noise (5)
- plant barrier trees and hedges
- install high walls, heavy drapes, weather strip windows and doors, solid-core doors, and double-triple pane windows
- find housing away from noisy traffic, airports, schools and factories
- place bedrooms on quieter side of house and garage on more noise side
- buy “quiet” appliances and turn down electronic devices
environmental solutions: poor air quality (5)
- use roll-on or solid deodorants and hairsprays
- carpool, public transportation, bike, walk
- don’t smoke, no smoking indoors
- air out houses and workplaces by opening windows, using air-con or dehumidifier to maintain <65% humidity, put green plants inside home, and clean heater and air filters
- build with safe materials and installation methods
environmental solutions: energy use (5)
- clean and replace furnace filters, clean dryer lint sheet after every use, clean refrigerator coils
- install computerized thermostat, turn down heat on water heaters
- dry similar clothes together and do loads consecutively, do full loads and with cold water
- replace old appliances with more efficient ones (ENERGY STAR) and use small appliances when possible
- use fluorescent lights, turn of lights when not in use, and install lighter-coloured furniture
environmental solutions: waste and recycling (3)
- reducing: avoid excessive packaging, avoid one-use utensils, kitchenware and bags, buy in bulk, and buy recycled paper products
- reusing: use both sides of sheets of paper, reuse old envelopes for messages and lists, reuse wrapping paper and ribbons, and reuse cardboard boxes and glass jars
- recycling: recycling centres, hand down clothes, alter and reuse existing clothes, and donate used clothing to charities; refinish, sell, or donate old furniture
what are the costs of reducing energy use (5)
- installation and maintenance
- time
- effort required
- peer disapproval
- psychological costs: felt deprivation
general methods of reducing energy use (3)
- efficiency investments (saved money, but used the least)
- better management
- curtailment of amenities
what inaccurate estimates are made when saving money (2)
- overestimate savings when using curtailment and management
- underestimate savings from efficiency investments
equal billing policies (3)
- equal bills per month do not help to reduce use of energy
- leads to more consumptions: distances usage from cost and there are no price cues of increased usage
- used by low income and elderly
what improvements have been made in energy and water use (4)
- more programmable thermostats
- more low-volume toilets
- more people using tap for drinking water
- more light-emitting LEDs
what are the trends of home heating in Canada (2)
- significant drop in use of coal and wood
- significant increase in use of natural gas and electricity
what are the expected energy trends of the future (2)
- solar, wind, and water to produce electricity
- no natural gas use
residential energy use trends
- increase due to population growth and fewer people per household leading to rise in the number of households
major appliances vs small appliances
- major appliances decreased energy use
- smaller ones increased energy use
BC Hydro initiatives (2)
- recognize businesses/universities as meeting sustainable goals
- lighting rebates, fridge buy backs, and window rebate programs for households
deterrents to recycling (3)
- separation rule: complicated and changing
- storage system: must have 2+ places for trash
- removal procedure: garbage is picked up too slowly
reported barriers to recycling (5)
- inconvenience
- time consuming
- took up too much space
- recycling as much as they could already
- used non-recycled some other way
motives for recycling (3)
- social responsibility
- want to reduce landfill
- reduce demand for raw materials
when can recycling have a bad outcome
- resource consumption increases when people have the option to recycle, especially when product is free or cost is paid by other
what is a waste product of concern for the environment (2)
- disposable diapers
- they are convenient and instant; fares better than using clothe diapers
where do the clothing donated to charities go (2)
- mainly sold to rag industry or sold through thrift stores
- few re-donated, sent to landfill or recycled
fast fashion (2)
- clothes manufactured to wear for a short time, creating much more textile waste
- influenced by fashion media and used by young women innovators and early adapters
fast fashion in youth (2)
- tend to dispose of clothing without considering further use of item or its environmental impact
- most donated to charity shops or put in trash, some resold or recycled
what are some efforts that have been made to reduce textile waste (2)
- clothes swapping events
- bags of unwanted clothes could be exchanged for coupons
clothing swapping events (2)
- often social events, can have themes
- bring clothing or other products and swap for the same amount of items
global soft goods supply chain (3)
- fiber and textile production
- apparel production
- retail distribution
clothing consumption process (3)
- acquisition
- maintenance, use and storage
- discard
fiber & textile production (3)
- water & oil used; chemicals, dyes
- GMO seeds lessen need for water and chemicals
- digital printing saves on water and energy use
apparel production (2)
- labour
- close to end user, otherwise high oil use
retail distribution
- fast fashion issues
- e-commerce (packaging); stores excess lights
acquisition (3)
- burrow, rent, hand-me-downs, sewing
- purchase new
- slow fashion: fewer and higher quality; keep longer
maintenance, use and storage (2)
- repair cafes
- cold water laundry and less frequent laundry
discard (2)
- know what can be recycled
- donate, don’t discard
what were the 5 common themes in adopting plastic bags?
- community meaning & support
- emotional affiliation
- localized access to political discourse
- personalization of the practice
- identity formation
community of meaning & support
- green bags were bought and used to communicate membership in an environmentally conscious local community
emotional affiliation (2)
- avoiding plastic bags reminds them they are different/better than others about the environment
- feelings of guilt form using plastic bags
localized access to political discourse
- local sources (media, people) alerted them to environmental issue of plastic bags, leading them to begin to notice stores that offered alternatives to plastic
localized access to political discourse
- local sources (media, people) alerted them to environmental issue of plastic bags, leading them to begin to notice stores that offered alternatives to plastic
personalization of the practice (2)
- some use green bags for carrying other things (books, party items)
- some also took plastic bags to use for other purposes (freezing foods, pet waste), but still used green bags for carrying groceries
identity formation
- use of green bags began to shape their use of other environmentally conscious behaviours
are reusable bags a better option? (2)
- plastic is less polluting and toxic than paper and cotton; plastic and paper bag must be used many times to make up for this difference
- additional concerns: bacterial contamination, more frequent laundering needed, wrapped in paper/plastic some items, COVID-19 cautions
who adopts ecological innovations (3)
- gen Y consumers want to enjoy the products they consumer, so JOYFUL consumption is a prerequisite to eco-innovativeness
- biosphere values (to protect nature for its own sake) increases eco-innovativeness
- those less influenced by judgement of others tend to be eco-innovative, whereas ecological consumers tend to be susceptible to social norms
moderators (2)
- enhance relationships between attitude and behaviours
- examples: perceived consumer effectiveness, faith in others
internal environmental locus of control (4)
- green consumer
- activist
- advocate
- recycler
green consumer:
- the more ‘green’ products I buy, the more I help persuade companies to become ‘friendlier’ to the environment
activist
- by making donations to pro-environmental groups, I can help make positive influences on the state of the enviroment
advocate
- if willing, people can generally influence their friends’ transportation habits
recycler
- by recycling, I am doing my part to help the state of the environment
what does the INELOC attitudes predict about pro-environmental behaviour (2)
- low constraint environmental behaviours
- major investments of money or time (new appliances, helping environmental groups)
actions that enhance pro-environmental behaviour (2)
- increase individual’s concern for the environment
- increase their belief that they can make a difference (have personal control over environmental outcomes)
what are public policies that influence environmental behaviours (3)
- economic incentives: green taxes, environmental levies, eco-labelling
- advertising moral obligation to others
- create social and moral norms (non-smoking = social approval)
effective information campaigns (5)
- presented by credible source
- message be specific
- presented in vivid, personal manner
- more sensitive to LOSS than gain
- best medium of communication: peers, friends, neighbours
overarching summary (2)
- specific environmental suggestions related to issues with air, water, waste, noise and energy are important
- BUT, the overriding suggestion is to support legislation, research and government policies that will improve all these areas of concern
